psychiatry | The Burgundy Zine

May 28, 2021

How Entheogenic Plants & Fungi Affect Memory

A major area of psychedelic research is its potential clinical applications in psychiatry. In particular, a major area of study has concentrated on the potential therapeutic effects of shrooms, acid, and MDMA for treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Memory plays a central role in the psychedelic experience,” begins a 2020 Psychopharmacology review. “The ability for psychedelics to provoke vivid memories has been considered important to their clinical efficacy.”

Throughout their review, the researchers found that psychedelics enhance autobiographical memory recall, which has therapeutic potential for overcoming traumatic experiences. However, psychedelics also have a dose-dependent effect of impairing memory task performance.

January 6, 2021

5-HT2A: From Psychedelics to Psychiatry

“Serotonin” (5-HT) is more than just a buzzword tossed around by Gen Z and Millennials when something benign boosts their mood.

The beloved hormone has an array of functions throughout the body, with seven types of receptors nestled in your brain and peripheral organs. Each of these receptors has subtypes with labels A through D, as well.

But there’s one serotonin receptor that’s often shrouded in mystery and intrigue — the 5-HT2A receptor. This is the serotonin receptor infamous for its role in the psychedelic experience.

But there’s hardly any discussion of its functions beyond its role in tripping your face off and how that’s tied to your mental health.

September 3, 2020

Should You See a Counselor, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist?

“Therapy” in and of itself is an umbrella term. Going to therapy could indicate you’re seeing a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, a social worker, a behavioral health specialist, or a number of other professionals.

While all of these professionals are eager to guide you towards better mental health, the type of service provided by each one will vary. Understanding the differences between a counselor, psychologist, and a psychiatrist will help you decide which care is right for you.

February 25, 2020

Patching Up the Blues with Nicotine

Whether it’s a bandaid over a bullet wound or a patch over an underlying mental health condition, researchers have been studying the effectiveness of treating depression and attention-deficit disorder with nicotine patches.

Which leaves one to wonder which is the lesser of two evils – a dependence on nicotine, a highly addictive substance, or grappling with depression and ADHD?

February 20, 2020

How Mental Health Affects Sleep by Sleepopolis

Experts from Sleepopolis teach us about the impact mental health has on sleep.

August 31, 2019

Review: Neurologic by Dr. Eliezer J. Sternberg

Have you ever wondered what someone might dream of if they were blind? Would they see anything? How about zombies? Could they drive to work? Can we remember things that never actually happened?

All of these questions, and much, much more are thoroughly answered and explored in Dr. Eliezer J. Sternberg’s, “Neurologic: The Brain’s Hidden Rationale Behind Our Irrational Behavior.”